Feeding device



Dec. 8, 1931. w. A. SMITH, SR., ET Al. 1,835,675

' FEEDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1930 Wiliam 'nutiz Se.

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 ETE STATES WILLIAM A. SMITH,Y sa., or EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WILLIAM A. SMITH, JR., or'

- PHILLIPSBURG, New JERSEY, AssIGNGRs fro INeEnsoLL-RAND COMPANY, or JER- SrJY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A coItPoaATIoN or NEW JERSEY FEEDING DEVICE Application led September 16, 1930. SerialNo. 482,183.

This invention relates to feedingV devices, but more particularly to a feeding device for a percussive motor mounted on ak support whereby it yis guided with respect to the worlr.

One object of the invention is to utilize the force of the jar resulting upon reversal of the hammer pistonl of the motor for actu` ating the motor towards the work and to retract it therefrom.

Another object is to at all times assure the proper operative position of the motor with respect to theworling implement which the hammer' piston is adapted to actuate into the work.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred form of the invention and in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts,

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a feeding device constructed in accordance with the .practice of the invention and showing it applied to a percussive motor and its support, and

Figures 2 and 3 are transverse views taken k0n the lines 2-2 and 3-8 of Figure 1 looking in the directions indicated by the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A designates a motor and B a support whereon the motor is mounted and withrespect to which the motor A is adapted to slide to and from the work.

For the purpose of this invention the motor A is illustrated as a rock drill comprising a cylinder C having a piston chamber D wherein is disposed a reciprocatory hammer piston E for delivering blows of impact to a working implement, such as a drill steel (not shown).

In the rear end of the cylinder C is rotation mechanism ofa well known type including a yratchet ring F disposed fixed'ly in the cylinder and a rifle bar G which eX- tends into the piston and wherewith` it is interlockingly engaged to effect rotary movement of the piston and thus also for the working implement in a well known manner.

Other elements for which the cylinder C forms a receptacle are a rear cylinder'washer H which forms a closurefor the rear end of the piston chamber D and also a seatfor a distributing valve J whereby the distribution of pressure fluid to the piston chamber D is controlled'. Such pressure fluid may flow to the ends of the piston' chamber D through rear and front inlet passages K and L controlled by the valve J.

A closure is providedfor the rearend of the cylinder C in the form of a back head O which may be clamped to the cylinder O by means of sidebolts P disposed on opposite sides of the motor A. Among other functions the baclr head O serves as a housing for a throttle valve Q which may be of the rotary type having a central chamber R into which pressure fluid from a suitable source of supply may be constantly admitted. The throttle valve Q is further provided with a supply port 8 adapted vto register with a supply passage T which opens into a supply reservoir U also inthe back head O, and in the ratchet ring H are a series of ports V to convey pressure fluid from the supply reservoir U to the distributing valve VJ.

In accordance with the practice of the in# vention means are provided .to effect actuation of the motor A along the support B so that the hammer piston E may at all times be ymaintained within proper striking relation with the working implement against which it strikes. 'To this end the hack head O is providedwith a depending lug or lugs lV having hores Yto receive a nut Z which is provided with internal threads b for the reception of a screw c. The screw c is disposed within the support B and extends longitudinally thereof and may be supported at its endsl by the extremities of the sup'- port B. The screw o may beheld against rotary movement in any suitable manner, asfor instance, by means of a key d which interlocks with the end of the screw and also with a bearing e arranged at the end of the support B. The screw c may be additionally secured against movement with respect to the support by anut f threaded on the .end of the screw and seating against the outer or rear iend. of the hearing @,while a collar g of the pawls.

formingan integral part of the screw c abuts the'opposite or inner end of the bearing c. The nut Z is of the rotary type and in the present insta-nce carries on its rear end, that is, that portion of the nut extending rearwardly of the back head 0", gear teeth 71, which mesh with a gear journalled on a. cylindrical projection 7c on the rear end of the back head O and in this instance forming ya portion thereof. v s

Associated with the gear y', as for instance` by forming an integral part thereof, is a ratchet wheel o which preferably is also journalled on the projection c. The gear j and the ratchet wheel 0 arevarranged in a' chamber p of acasing g seated against the back end of the back head 0: tov-which it may also be' secured by means of the side bolts P. ln

vther present instance the casing g carries a depending flange or skirt g which lies across the rear end of the nut Z to act as an abutment therefor.

An additional function of the casing g is to serve as a bearingfor pawls, designated according to pairs, as r and s. To this. end the casing g is provided with a series of'apertures vor bores t to receive the trunnions u The pawls of each pair are preferably arranged oir diamietrically opposite sides of the ratchet wheel ov and acting againstV the wings o of the pawls are springpressed plungers w to `press the pawls into engagement with the teeth ofV the` ratchet wheel 0. The plungers fw, together with their springs, may be conveniently arranged in bores m in the casing g., Means are provided for controlling eugagement of the several pairs of pawls with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 0.` To this end a sleeve Q/ is disposed on the cylindrical projection 7c whereon it is rotatable and said sleeve is provided kwith a pair ofwings .e which lie over the periphery of the ratchet wheel o and extend between thepawls so that, upon manipulation of thesleevey, each wing may trip either the pawls 8 or r, depending upon the direction invwhich the vsleeve is being rotated. The sleeve projects rearwardly of the casing g andthe projecting portion of the sleeve may be suitably knurled to form a roughened surface or gripportion 2 whereby the sleeve y/may be manipulated.

To the end that the sleeve y may be held lixedly in either of itslimiting positions, that is, to trip either pairof pawls s or r, or in a neutral position to enable all the pawls to engagel the ratchet wheel o, one of Ythe wings e is provided with a series of depressions, such as those designated by 3, for engagement with a spring pressedr plunger 4 operable in an aperture 5 Vinthe'casing g. Y

Whenever the sleeve y4 occupies a neutral position all of the pawls 7 and s may be in engagement Vwith the ratchet wheel 0 as hereinbefore indicated. ln such case, of

course, the motor Awill be held against any form of movement with respect to the support B. There are instances during the operation of apparatus of this type, however, where it may be desirable to merely retard the movement of the motor relatively to its support. T he motor is accordingly provided with a suitable braking device illustrated in this instanceas a brake shoe 6 slidable in a bore 7 in the back head O.

The means whereby the brake shoe 6 may be forced into frictional engagement with the nut ZV consists of a shaft 8 in the back head O` whereinit is j ournalled and having an eccentric portion 9 adapted to .be forced into engagement with the brake shoe 6 upon rotation of the shaft 8. The shaft 8 is accordingly provided with a lever 10 which interlocks with the shaft 8 and' is clamped securely in position on the shaft by means of a nut 12;

The` operation of the device is as follows.: Let it be assumed that it is intended to enable the motor A to be actuated in a forwardly direction towards the work and that the hammer piston VE is in operationto deliver its blows against the working implement. In order to effect such movement of the motor, the sleeve z/ is rotated "to trip the vpawls r out of engagement from the ratchet Vwheel 0.

During the subsequent operation of the hammer piston the jar resulting from the act of reversal of the hammery piston in the front end of the cylinder E, and which jar will be imparted to the motor A, will act to move the motor in the direction of the work. The nut Z being journalled in the back head will then be caused `to rotate on the stationary screw c and the rotary movement of the nut will be transmitted through the pinion 71, and the gear to the ratchet wheel 0 which will turn in a counterclockwise direction as Figure 2 is viewed.

Upon partial rotation of the ratchet wheel, the pawls s will be tripped thereby. As the teeth inthe ratchet wheel pass over the ends of the pawls s said pawls will be actuated by their respective spring-pressed plunger fw to assume positions for engaging the teeth on the ratchet wheel and thus act as abutments to prevent rotation of the nut Z in` a counter vdirection at therinstant of reversal of the hammer piston E in the rear end of the piston chamber D.

- Continued operation of the hammer piston, during which time, of course, the working implement is being driven into the work, will result in a gradual advancement of the motor A in the direction of the Work so that the hammer piston E will at all times be maintained in a position relatively to the working implement in which thekmost eective force of the blows of the hammer piston may be obtained. Y

After' the drilling `operation is completed A or after the motor has advanced in a forwardly direction along the support to the'limit of its extent, the. sleeve 1/ may be oscillated to its other limiting position.V In` the new position of the sleeve y the wings .e will be re operation, only the ar imparted thereby to the motor by thehammer Vpiston in the rear end of the piston chamber D will be eective to move the motor A relatively to they support B.v At the opposite end of the stroke of the hammer piston E, .the motor will be held against movement with respect to the support by the train of elements comprising the nut Z, the screw c and the ratchet and pawl devices, together with the gear train interposed between the ratchet wheel and the nut Z. In this way the motor A may be rapidly retracted by the vibrations resulting from operation of the hammer piston E until the motor has reached its rearmost limiting positio-n in the support B, whereupon the sleeve g/ may be rocked to a new position and the supply of pressure fluid to the piston chamber D may be cut off by means of the throttle valve Q.

We claim:

1. In a feeding device, the combination with a motor and a support whereon said motor is slidably mounted, a reciprocatory hammer piston in the motor imparting jars thereto for moving the motor longitudinally of the support, of recoil resistance means for the motor comprising a fixed member supported independently of the motor and a rotatable member carried by the motor and being in threaded engagement with the iixed member, said rotatable member being rotated upon movement of the motor relatively to the support, and means for controlling the direction of rotation of the rotatable member.

2. In a feeding device, the combination with a motor and a support whereon said motor is slidably mounted, a reciprocatory hammer piston in the motor imparting jars thereto for moving the motor longitudinally of the support, of recoil resistance means for the motor comprising a fixed member secured immovably to the support and a rotatable member journalled in the motor and being in threaded engagement with the fixed member, said rotatable member being rotated by the motor upon movement thereof with respect to the support, and abutment means carried by the motor to control the direction of rotation of the rotatable member.

3. In a feeding device, the combination with a motor and a.v support whereon said motor is slidably mounted, aureoiprocatory -hammer piston 1n the vmotor imparting Jars thereto for moving the motor longitudinally of the support, of recoil resistance means for the motor comprising a fixed member secured immovably to the support `and a rotatable member ournalled inthe motor and being in threaded engagement with thexed member, said rotatable member being rotated bythe motor upon movement thereof with respect to the support, abutment meansfor the rotatable member, and .means for controlling the abutment means to control the'direction A of rotation of the rotatable member.

4. In a feeding device, thecombination with a--motor and a support whereon'said motor is slidably mounted,'aereciprocatory hammer pistonin the motor imparting ars thereto for moving the motor with respect to the support, ofrecoil resistance means for the motor comprising a screwsupported in fixed kposition independently ofthe motor and anutcarried by the motor and in threaded engagement with the screw, said nut being rotated by the motor upon movement thereof relatively to the support, a ratchet wheel connectedk to A be rotated by the nut, `abutment means movablefinto and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, and means for controlling the abutment means to determine the direction of rotation of the nut and thus also the direction of movementof the motor with respect to the support. v f f v 5. In `a feeding device, the combination with -a motor and a support `whereon said motor is slidably mounted, a reciprocatory hammer ,piston in the motor imparting jars thereto for` moving the motor with respect to the support, of recoil resistancemeans for the motor comprising a screw supported in fixed position independently of the motorV and a nut carried by the motor and in threaded engagement with the screw, said nut being rotated yby the motor upon movement thereof relatively to the support, a pinion on the nut,

a ratchetwheel journalled in the motor 4and having-agea'r to mesh with the pinion, abutment means movable into and out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel, and means for controlling the abutment means to determine the direction of rotation ofthe nut and thus also the direction of movementof the motor with respect to thesu'pport. V

6. In a feeding device, the combination with a motorand a support whereon said mo# tor is slidably mounted, a reciprocatory hammer rpiston in the motor imparting jars there-y to for moving the motor, with respect to the support, of recoilresistance means for the motor comprising a screw supported in fixed positionv independently of lthelmotor anda nut carried by the motor` and inthreaded'engagement' with the screw, said nut being rowith a motor and a support whereon saidmo.-

tor is slidably mounted, a reciprocatory ham.- me'rpistonin the motor impartingV jars theretogfor moving'the motorA with. respect to the support, of recoil resistance means for the motor comprising a screwl supported in iixed position independently of theA motor and a Y nut carried by the motor andl in threaded en- Vet gagement with the screw, saidv nut being rotated by the motor upon movement thereof relatively to. the support,y a ratchet wheel, means for transmittingthe movement of the nut to the ratchetwheel, a plurality of pawls carried by the motor andv being arranged in pairs about the ratchet, means for pressing the pawls intoengagement'with the ratchet Wheel, and` means for tripping the pawls in pairs out of engagement from the ratchet wheel to determine the direction of rotation of? the nut and th-us also the direction of movement of the'motor4 with respect lto the support. l

81 In a feeding device, the combination with a motor Vand a support Whe-reon said motor isjslidably mounted, a reciprocatory hammer piston inthe motor imparting jars thereto for movingA the motor'xvith respect to the support, of recoil resistance means forthe motor comprising a screw supported in fixed position independently of the motor anda nut carried by the motor and in threaded engagement-- with the; screw, said nut being rotated by the motor upon movement thereof relatively to the support, a ratchet Wheel, means for transmitting the movement ofthe nut to .the ratchet wheel, a plurality of pawls carried by the motor and being arranged in pairs about the ratchet, means` for pressing the paw-ls into engagement with the4 ratchet wheel, a rotatable sleeve on the motor having wings extending Ybetween the pawls to trip the pawls in pairs, thereby enabling either Vpair'of pawls to be tripped out of engagement fromV theratchet wheel thus allowing another pair ofpawls'to act as abutments for the said ratchet Wheel to determine the di'- rection of rotation of the nut and thus also the direction of movement ofthe motor with respect to the support. 9. In la feeding device, vthe, combination i with a motor and a support Whereon 'said lmot'or is Y'sli'dfably mounted, a reciprocatory hammer piston in the motor imparting jars ther-eto for movingl the motor with respect to the Learners support, of' recoil yresistance means for Athe motor comprising a screw supported in fixed position independently of the motor and a nutzcarri'ed' by the motor and in threaded en.- gagement with the screw, said nut being ro- 'tated by the motor upon movement thereof specification. f

` WILLIAM A. SMITH, Sn. WILLIAM A. SMITH, Jn. 

